An article in the Guardian of 6 September 2018 (“‘Human Impulses Run Riot’: China’s Shocking Pace of Change“) provides support for the view that, with the (re-) introduction of capitalism in the 1980s, Chinese society has been subject to a process of social fragmentation. Individualism, materialism and corruption are rampant, while the importance of family has declined and collective political ideals no longer drive people.
The author (Yo Hua) reflects on the political, economic and social changes since the 1960s, identifying three periods of rapid political change (leading to three waves of suicides among political officials), and noting that in present China money is all that counts. Political ideals no longer drive people, family ties have weakened, individualism and corruption are rampant and inequality has increased. He seems to suggest that no one is really happy. Ordinary workers suffer most from the fierce competition, which is driving wages down. The rich suffer from anxiety, afraid to lose everything they have acquired. Many people are nostalgic. But new technologies (like mobile payments) have been taken up by most people, and few, he argues, would really want to go back to the past. He also notes that present-day protests (“mass incidents”), when they occur, are motivated by self-interest (protection of material interests) not by a desire to transform society – indicating widespread depoliticisation
Although the love of money and materialism theoretically could be seen as shared values, they do not bind communities or societies together. Rather, they feed and fuel competition, jealousy, and perpetual discontent and unhappiness (relative deprivation – pressure to “keep up with the Joneses”, a treadmill of insatiable consumption). Hence, relying on continuous economic growth, even if it were possible, as a means to “keep people happy” is a fundamentally inadequate and risky strategy for holding societies together (social integration). Large inequalities in wealth and income erode social integration and create a new class society. Not surprisingly, China’s leadership is trying to stimulate pride in China’s long-lived culture to maintain social cohesion. But clamping down on corruption, although it may help somewhat to maintain the legitimacy of the regime, does not do much for social integration as it does not address the sources of fragmentation linked to individualism, materialism, exploitation and inequality.
Humanity on Trial 